September 12. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
401 
I 
vincialisms, or vulgarisms, deriving their origin from some 
single feature in the bird. Mr. Brent, admitting the objections 
against their being called “Pheasanted” fowls, says—“ It 
is easy to correct such ignorance by reason without giving a 
false name to a breed of poultry." But we hardly see how 
reason is to correct the error, if the admitted faulty nomen¬ 
clature should be persisted in. Few will be capable of con¬ 
tinuing the use of a name without, more or less, retaining, at 
the same time, the erroneous reasons that led to its use; and 
the mass of the people being those for whose information 
all such systems must be designed, are also those who 
would be most likely to derive such false impressions. 
Mr. Brent, lastly, alludes to the alleged misnomer of the 
“coloured Dorking.” Our views coincide with his own, in 
thinking it highly probable that the progenitor of the 
Dorking race was “ a white bird with a rose comb.” But is 
this fact so established as to do away with any pretence, on 
the part of the coloured birds to the title they have so long 
borne ? Scarcely, we think, can it be so considered, unless 
it is capable of proof that none but white birds were, at any- 
specified period, in former years, called Dorkings; and this 
evidence, so far as we can learn, is wholly wanting. Custom, 
therefore, manifestly sanctions the assumption of this name 
by the coloured variety ; and without stronger arguments for 
the exclusive ownership of the term by the white, and its | 
rejection from the other variety, we are content to abide by 
present rules, which, to say the least, are uncontradicted by 
the usage of very many years, and are, moreover, recon¬ 
cilable in every respect with our present knowledge of the 
breed in question. 
The term “ Surrey ” or “ Sussex fowl,” our readers need 
hardly be. reminded, is applied to birds of the Dorking 
character, but minus the fifth toe. 
Thus far, in justification of the present application of the 
word “ Dorking; ” but, as with the Hamburghs, let us see 
how, and in what manner, the proposed change of name 
might be effected ; for surely, the argument that would dis¬ 
prove the use of a given term in reference to any object, 
requires its advancer to state his opinion as to what should 
take the place of the exploded appellation. “ Surrey or j 
Sussex fowl,” would be substituted. But ambiguity, from 
the indefinite character of suoh an application, it will be 
observed, would be thus perpetuated, and the peculiarity 1 
that has been recognised as characteristic of the Dorking 
race, the additional toe, would also be thus at once swept 
away. The white Dorking, we imagine, cannot be identified 
with the town that gives the name, any more than its 
coloured cousin, which, however originally descended, has 
been long known by the title it now bears, and, so far as 
credible authority exists, appears justified in its retention of | 
it. Here, however, as before, usage is a material witness, j 
and the Natural History of fowls having only very recently 
been considered a worthy subject of study and enquiry, the 
chances of additional light being thrown upon the subject 
from well-authenticated accounts of the practice and opinions 
of former days is so remote, that little, if any, aid can be ; 
thence expected. In this emergency, we take the name as 
we find it, seeing no prospect of bettering it, unless, indeed, 
to avoid controversy, we adopt the term “five-clawed fowls,” 
subdividing these into white and coloured. But the present 
classification is sufficiently distinct, and by it the merest 
tyro in the poultry-yard ascertains the many distinctions by 
which he recognises the Dorking of either breed. 
If we hesitate, therefore, as to any advantage from dis¬ 
turbing the present arrangement of the Hamburgh classes, 
still more doubtful are we of the policy by which a similar 
change would be effected with the Dorkings. If, however, 
facts should hereafter be elicited, which may throw further 
j light on the original descent or habitat of either one or the 
j other, we shall never be found reluctant to give them due 
weight, in the reconsideration of this or of any other 
question. 
But after all, unless we are greatly mistaken, the “ specific 
distinctions of the various breeds of foiuls ” is a subject on 
which the opinions of many of our most experienced 
poultry-keepers would be at variance. What constitutes 
I such individuality, however, is a topie that would lead us 
far beyond our present allotted limits. 
- SOWING WHEAT EARLY. 
In addition to our main breadth of Wheat grown this 
year, at one foot apart, which is extraordinary fine, with most 
ears containing from eighty to one hundred grains, not yet 
thrashed, and, therefore, we are not able to give a result of 
at present; we have experimented on one square yard of 
Piper's Thickset, at six inches apart, or eighteen plants, 
equal to something less than one peck of seed per acre. 
The result is, one plant failed, and the remainder produced 
40(5 ordinary ears ; one plant inadvertently crept in close to 
another, which produced only six weak ears, whilst the other 
sixteen averaged about twenty eight ears, at forty grains 
each (not extraordinary). The exact produce is one quart, 
equal to eighteen quarters seven bushels and one peck per 
acre ! This was sown at the end of August, with our main 
breadth. The stubble is reserved for the inspection of any¬ 
one who may doubt this statement as being correct. 
N.B.—We also sowed a small plot last July, which proved 
productive, in a superlative degree, with ears surpassing any 
we had ever before seen, but, unfortunately, the birds 
devoured it all, notwithstanding it had been netted to protect 
it! It stood the winter well! We sow this day for main 
crop next season. September 1st, 1854.—Hardy and Son, 
Maldon, Essex. 
NOTE}3 EROM PARIS.—2. 
FRENCH BOUQUETS. 
Besides the general fete days, such as Easter, the Na¬ 
poleon anniversary, &c., for which business and work of all 
kinds is suspended, the Parisians observe, more or less, 
such religious fetes as are dedicated to particular patron 
saints, as St. Louis, St. Andre, St. Pierre, and other per¬ 
sonages illustrious in ecclesiastical history. These occasions, 
however, cause but little interruption of ordinary business, 
though they afford extra exercise for the duties of the 
clergy, and others disposed for religious ordinances. But 
there is one circumstance connected with these fetes which 
is worth notice, as it has a direct bearing on the cultivation 
of plants and flowers, and because it explains, at least, one 
of the reasons why their sale is so extensively carried on in 
every district of Paris. . 
Suppose, then, that it is the fete of St. Louis (which 
happened only a few days back), all persons bearing the 
name of Louis are entitled, on that day, to receive the feli¬ 
citations of their friends, accompanied with the presentation 
of a bouquet, or a flowering-plant. It may be readily under¬ 
stood, then, that flower-dealers make extra preparations lor 
such occasions, and, of course, they do not forget to set a | 
higher value on their merchandise than they would be war¬ 
ranted in doing at other times. A large and beautiful 
bouquet may be had on ordinary days for twenty sous 
(10d.), or, at the very most, thirty sous (Is. 3d.) ; but on 
fete days these figures are nearly doubled for similar articles. 
It is pleasant to see with what care and neatness the flowers 
are arranged under the light canvass covering which protects 
them from the hot sun, and where la marchande , a jolly 
commere, or a blooming country girl, sits watching the en¬ 
quiring gaze of every fresh comer, and eagerly soliciting an 
inspection of her varied stock-in-trade. And here, as else¬ 
where, market people are importunate enough in trying to 
entice purchasers. But it is not only fete days that con¬ 
tribute to the general commerce of flowers in Paris ; for 
birthday's also require a like profusion of floral offerings, 
and it is no uncommon occurrence for the room in which an 
evening party is received, on the occasion of a lady’s birth¬ 
day, to be half filled with bouquets and flowering-plants m ; 
pots. No person goes to a birthday party without, at least, 
one bouquet, some take more, and even five or six as large 
and beautiful as can be had, are not more than, etiquette 
sanctions. It often happens,.indeed, that a lady will receive 
some twenty or thirty bouquets from the members of her 
own household alone, for the husband generally contributes . 
“ a good dozen,” as the French say. Suppose, then, that j 
the party includes twenty or thirty friends, each bringing, on 
an average, three or four bouquets or flowering-plants, some 
idea may be formed of the display which a birthday party j 
presents ijq respectable society here. Hence, in the flower- | 
